Today was the last straw. I have a 2002 4300 HST that's been nothing but trouble since the day I bought it. Rear end leaks, oil line leaks, frozen brakes, sticking hydraulic levers...and this week when I have about 140 tons of sand to move...it dies completetely. In the first three months I owned it, this tractor was in the shop more than it was in my barn. About every six months I can count on a trip to the dealer. I let nostalgia affect my purchase 3 years ago....but this dog is going to be traded in for a Kubota ASAP! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Green lemon
- Thread starter rwarner
- Start date
- Views: 3380
beenthere
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2001
- Messages
- 18,612
- Location
- Southern Wisconsin, USA
- Tractor
- JD_4x2_Gator, JD_4300, JD_425, JD_455 AWS, added JD_455, JD_110, JD_X485(sold)
Sorry to hear that. My 4300 has been trouble free. Yours must have been one of the last 4300's before the 4310's were out.
Sounds like something abnormal about yours. From what I hear, not the typical Deere 4300.
Must have a rough history behind it.
Hope the Kubota is better. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Sounds like something abnormal about yours. From what I hear, not the typical Deere 4300.
Must have a rough history behind it.
Hope the Kubota is better. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
thcri
Elite Member
Well really don't know what to say about that??? I am not a John Deere fan but the Corporation John Deere is much better than that. I would go back to your dealer and demand some better service. I would ask for the phone number or address as to where you can contact the manufacturer your self. What you are saying is not typical of John Deere. Now there may be some dealers out there who are not taking proper care of you but the corporation is better than that.
murph
murph
stuart
Gold Member
Likewise sorry to hear about this Green Lemon. Mine has been wonderful and basically trouble free other than a fogging instrument cluster. Complain and keep on complaining to the dealer and JD. You may get some relief.
PineRidge
Super Member
Unfortunately lemons come in all colors and flavors these days. I'm not a Deere fan myself but I'll bet if you write a letter to corporate that they will get something done for you quickly. No company wants a black mark against their reputation if they can help it especially one as big as John Deere.
I hope you're smiling in the end my friend. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I hope you're smiling in the end my friend. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Shadow_River
Member
Looks like you have tried the dealer route. Call the Regional Rep. for Deere , I'll bet you will get an instant response and perhaps a quick resolution to your problem.
azzxx
John Deere 5520 Cab MFWD, John Deere 2040 & MF 265
azzxx
John Deere 5520 Cab MFWD, John Deere 2040 & MF 265
frank_f15
Super Member, Rest in Peace
srry to hear about your proble. I know that a bad unit in any thing can be very frustrating. Try going to a regional RP with all your documantion and see if you can't get some degrre of satisfaction!But if u are really disgusted, then bite the bullet and trade.
Sent a letter to JD HQ early on in this journey and got no response. You guys give JD customer service more credit than it deserves. At this point there's nothing they can do. I'm outside the warranty now and it's not so much that the dealer doesn't fix whatever I take it in for (for a price)....it's just that it happens so often.
It's true, lemons can come in all colors, but when I bought...I thought was buying an icon of reliability.
It's true, lemons can come in all colors, but when I bought...I thought was buying an icon of reliability.
etcallhome
Platinum Member
Sorry to hear of your trbl
5 yrs ago I bought a 425 I was in heaven till the first morning I started in my building The odor was so bad rotten egg , then tried mowing it just had no power plus it would belch out the black smoke on inclines.Called dealer sorry we can't do anything unless it has over 100 hrs .After 65-70- hrs I turned on the key for 48 hrs and called dealer.
They replaced all kind of parts over the next 2mo. Everyweek I had it back to the dealer. I finally got tired told them to take this deere out and shot it because it was sick. My saleman and manager of the shop called JD the next week I had a brand new engine from the muffler to the fan and all parts inbetween was included
I now buying a JD 2210 FEL , frt 54 blad and rear 54 mower
from that dealer, if they hadn't done this I would not have another Deere
5 yrs ago I bought a 425 I was in heaven till the first morning I started in my building The odor was so bad rotten egg , then tried mowing it just had no power plus it would belch out the black smoke on inclines.Called dealer sorry we can't do anything unless it has over 100 hrs .After 65-70- hrs I turned on the key for 48 hrs and called dealer.
They replaced all kind of parts over the next 2mo. Everyweek I had it back to the dealer. I finally got tired told them to take this deere out and shot it because it was sick. My saleman and manager of the shop called JD the next week I had a brand new engine from the muffler to the fan and all parts inbetween was included
I now buying a JD 2210 FEL , frt 54 blad and rear 54 mower
from that dealer, if they hadn't done this I would not have another Deere
txhawg
Silver Member
I know the lemon laws cover autos, trucks, and motorcysles. Does it also cover tractors?
bigpete
Veteran Member
Some states have ag equipment lemon laws but they typically apply only to tractors and equipment used in an ongoing agricultural operation. They are very clear about what the responsibilities of the consumer are. A tractor that has been used for 3 years for personal or non-agricultural commercial use would not likely qualify as a lemon under the laws of my state. No offense intended here, but in this case, the owner should have forced the tractor back on the manufacturer much earlier in its troubled life. JD may still try to help rectify the situation, but they are most certainly not obligated to do so--based on what I read above. At this point in the life of the machine, I doubt any tractor company would do anything more than offer to fix the machine for the cost of labor--at best. Even that is a stretch. Here is a link to the Virginia Law, which is similar to Delaware's law (but on-line): Ag Equipment Lemon Law of Virginia I couldn't tell you if Missouri has any such law.
Bottom line: if you smell a lemon or a chronic problem in the first couple of months, force the tractor back on the manufacturer. If you figure it out in the first year, or so, you can likely work something out to trade for a new machine at a depriciation cost for your hours of useage. Beyond that, ANY tractor company (or car company) will just keep fixing the problems under waranty until that time period is done, unless a lemon law can be called upon. Beyond the warranty period, you are on your own.
Good luck, though. It sounds like there is plenty of documentation to make a case with JD for a long, troubled history. JD corporate is the only hope now. The dealer cannot be expected to pay for anything out of pocket. It just ai'nt reasonable. If the dealer does anything free at this point, he should be commended and rewarded with customer loyalty. My delaer went the extra mile and he has mine. I know somebody is going to take issue with this point about the dealer not digging into his company's pocket, but the realities of running a "franchise" business for profit rule this issue.
JD corporate will listen, but you might have to be persistent. They did in my case. If the company (JD, Kubota, New Holland, or any other) feels the problem is repairable, they will do only that. In my case, they took my leaky 2210 trade-in at a minor depreciation rate and cut me a great deal on an upgrade to a 4110. I truly believe that is as good as it will get in most of these cases when time and machine hours have accumulated for more than a few months.
Finally, all the talk in the world is just talk. Put your issue in writing and you will get a better response from any company, JD or otherwise.
Good luck
Bottom line: if you smell a lemon or a chronic problem in the first couple of months, force the tractor back on the manufacturer. If you figure it out in the first year, or so, you can likely work something out to trade for a new machine at a depriciation cost for your hours of useage. Beyond that, ANY tractor company (or car company) will just keep fixing the problems under waranty until that time period is done, unless a lemon law can be called upon. Beyond the warranty period, you are on your own.
Good luck, though. It sounds like there is plenty of documentation to make a case with JD for a long, troubled history. JD corporate is the only hope now. The dealer cannot be expected to pay for anything out of pocket. It just ai'nt reasonable. If the dealer does anything free at this point, he should be commended and rewarded with customer loyalty. My delaer went the extra mile and he has mine. I know somebody is going to take issue with this point about the dealer not digging into his company's pocket, but the realities of running a "franchise" business for profit rule this issue.
JD corporate will listen, but you might have to be persistent. They did in my case. If the company (JD, Kubota, New Holland, or any other) feels the problem is repairable, they will do only that. In my case, they took my leaky 2210 trade-in at a minor depreciation rate and cut me a great deal on an upgrade to a 4110. I truly believe that is as good as it will get in most of these cases when time and machine hours have accumulated for more than a few months.
Finally, all the talk in the world is just talk. Put your issue in writing and you will get a better response from any company, JD or otherwise.
Good luck
Shadow_River
Member
CALL the Regional Rep!!! Might surprise you what he can do....maybe even get you a super deal on a new tractor. Phone calls are better than letters.
azzxx
John Deere 5520 Cab MFWD, John Deere 2040 & MF 265
azzxx
John Deere 5520 Cab MFWD, John Deere 2040 & MF 265
CUMMINS
New member
a green lemon is a lime /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
bigpete
Veteran Member
<font color="blue"> Phone calls are better than letters.
</font> Not exactly...
Phone calls are a start. Writing is a call to action. Seems like there have been a lot of calls in this case. I started to get a response from the regional rep after the dealer and the Customer Care phone center ASKED me to put it in writing to start the case file. BTW, regional reps do not open case files. They all start with the customer care center and a letter.
</font> Not exactly...
Phone calls are a start. Writing is a call to action. Seems like there have been a lot of calls in this case. I started to get a response from the regional rep after the dealer and the Customer Care phone center ASKED me to put it in writing to start the case file. BTW, regional reps do not open case files. They all start with the customer care center and a letter.
creeper
Gold Member
Changing to a Kubota is no gaurantee that you wont have trouble. All brands have this happen.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> Call the Regional Rep. for Deere </font> )</font>
How can you find there number or who the regional rep is ? It seems like it is impossible to deal directly with a JD regional rep at my dealership,they use the dealership as a go between.
How can you find there number or who the regional rep is ? It seems like it is impossible to deal directly with a JD regional rep at my dealership,they use the dealership as a go between.
Shadow_River
Member
I would call a # of JD dealers in your area or call JD Corporate or Customer Service. I am sure you will get the Regional Rep's name and #. I don't think it's a big secret who they are. These Reps really do have alot of control over matters such as these. Go for it.
azzxx
John Deere 5520 Cab MFWD, John Deere 2040 & MF 265
azzxx
John Deere 5520 Cab MFWD, John Deere 2040 & MF 265
bigpete
Veteran Member
There is a specific problem resolution process. First, you work with the dealer to resolve the problem. Second, you call the customer care center and a DTAC case number is assigned to you. The DTAC case is communicated to the regional rep and the dealer. The regional rep works with the dealer until he has all the info he needs. At that point, the regional rep may contact you to let you know what you need to do and what they intend to do. The case resolution is then overseen by the RR and you work with the dealer. The dealer is the first and last point of contact. The dealer would provide you with the customer care number to call. I suppose a regional rep might take a call if you could get his number. He would almost certainly refer you to the customer care center to have a case number assigned.
dicker
Silver Member
When I first bought my JD 4310 in 2003, the dealer could not deliver it because he did not order the Power Beyond for my backhoe and according to him the part was backordered. This went on about a week or so, my new JD sitting at his dealership and not being delivered. I might mention that he offered to deliver it without the backhoe, but I needed the hoe, so I opted to have it delivered all at once.
I finally got fed up and called the John Deere head office here in Grimsby Ontario and explained my dilema. In a half hour I was called by the regional rep. who explained that my part would be at the dealership the next day, and he had arranged delivery of the tractor to my house for the following day.
About a week later he checked up on me to see that all went well.
Richard
I finally got fed up and called the John Deere head office here in Grimsby Ontario and explained my dilema. In a half hour I was called by the regional rep. who explained that my part would be at the dealership the next day, and he had arranged delivery of the tractor to my house for the following day.
About a week later he checked up on me to see that all went well.
Richard
